Oklahoma Schools Pass Public-Private Proposal

Some Oklahoma high schools could be bumping up a class if they meet new classification criteria.

Thursday, July 28th 2011, 6:14 pm

By: News On 6

Oklahoma Schools Pass Public-Private Proposal

Originally Published: Jun 8, 2011 3:25 PM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff

OKLAHOMA CITY— High school sports classifications in the state of Oklahoma could be seeing some significant changes after the OSSAA learned Tuesday that member schools passed the public-private proposal by a large margin.

In total, 265 schools voted for the measure while 49 were against the proposal.

Under the new rule, any member school (Class 5A and below) that meets three of the four criteria is subject to being moved up one classification.

The criteria are:
1. If the school has selective admission or enrollment
2. If the school is in a 15 mile radius of a 5A or 6A high school
3. If fewer than 25 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch programs
4. If the school has experienced a 50 percent increase in enrollment over last three years.

A school can come back down a class in any activity if that school has not finished in the top eight in that activity three of the past five years.

Activities that have both boys and girls teams like basketball, soccer, cross country and track will be treated as one activity. Meaning, if a school meets three of the four criteria and the boy’s basketball team has finished in the top eight in the state three times in a five year period but a girls team does not, the school still moves up a class in that sport.

In the same way, if a school meets the three out of four criteria, but has not finished in the top eight in state competition, then the school will not move up a class.
Another stipulation is that schools can bump up to Class 6A in every sport except football.

The new rule takes effect July 1 and although it will not affect the 2011 football season, it will still be used this summer to determine classes since new district assignments are made in the summer.

Tuesday the OSSAA also decided that Class 4A-6A state football games will again be played at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater this December.

For more information on the OSSAA visit ossaa.com.